[ckolsen]

According to this post, Acura will boost HP on the CL-S to 270, and also begin selling a TL-S, while both cars will get a manual in 2003. Cheers for Acura for making more sporty cars and fewer boats, but I still don't understand the CL-S market - the car doesn't need any more HP, it just needs to be lighter and better looking, more fun to drive. I don't think a TL-S or a CL-S will be a success in the US, just not sporty enough to satisfy enthusiasts, and too impractical (cramped) and poorly styled to satisfy the rest.
http://www.acura-tl.com/ubb/Forum11/HTML/001412.html

 

[kkambbak9399]

Originally posted by ckolsen:
According to this post, Acura will boost HP on the CL-S to 270, and also begin selling a TL-S, while both cars will get a manual in 2003. Cheers for Acura for making more sporty cars and fewer boats, but I still don't understand the CL-S market - the car doesn't need any more HP, it just needs to be lighter and better looking, more fun to drive. I don't think a TL-S or a CL-S will be a success in the US, just not sporty enough to satisfy enthusiasts, and too impractical (cramped) and poorly styled to satisfy the rest.
http://www.acura-tl.com/ubb/Forum11/HTML/001412.html

wow...
270hp in an TL..dats not bad..
actually i think da TL is a pretty decent car..
a friend of mine has one...
and I would have to admit its a solid IS fighter...dont worry, IS's are still better...

hmmmm...
TL-S vs. TRD supercharged IS300

YEAH BABY!!!!

late

 

[crontab]

any pics?

------------------
An Ecstatic Owner of a Fully-Loaded Graphite Gray 2001 Lexus IS 300

 

[mrclam]

if they made the TL-s RWD and gave it a stiffer suspensioni 'd get it in a heartbeat

oh yeah add a stickshift too for good measure

 

[ckolsen]

You would not, clam, I know you! Of course the reason the TL is even in existence is cause it's so cheap to make, based on the Accord platform, which as you may know, is NOT rear wheel drive. If it had it's own new platform, it'd cost a lot more than $30,000. Besides, two RWD sedan's are in the works, the new RL and a new compact S2000-based sedan.
It'll never get a stick shift with 270 hp on the front wheels, that would give new meaning to the words "wheel hop".

Originally posted by mrclam:
if they made the TL-s RWD and gave it a stiffer suspensioni 'd get it in a heartbeat

oh yeah add a stickshift too for good measure

 

[kkambbak9399]

Originally posted by ckolsen:
You would not, clam, I know you! Of course the reason the TL is even in existence is cause it's so cheap to make, based on the Accord platform, which as you may know, is NOT rear wheel drive. If it had it's own new platform, it'd cost a lot more than $30,000. Besides, two RWD sedan's are in the works, the new RL and a new compact S2000-based sedan.
It'll never get a stick shift with 270 hp on the front wheels, that would give new meaning to the words "wheel hop".

wait!!
a S2000 sedan??
any specs?? pics???
this is da first ive heard of this...


late

 

[ckolsen]

No news for months on this, while I dig up a picture, here's a news article from April.

The german car magazine "Autobild" (4/2000) announces that Honda will build a rear wheel drive car called AAV, that is planned to be launched in 2002. It will be available with two engines: the S2000 engine, reduced to 220 bhp and a 2.5 liter engine with 260 bhp. The AAV is a family sports car.

Originally posted by kkambbak9399:

wait!!
a S2000 sedan??
any specs?? pics???
this is da first ive heard of this...


late

 

[ckolsen]

Found it - picture of upcoming S2000-based sedan - this is a year old and certainly meaningless, but it does mention the IS/Altezza at least.

http://www.vtec.net/news/items/162.html

This one's an artist's rendering:
http://www.vtec.net/news/items/133.html

 

[4yoazz]

In that second picture, it looks a lot like the IS with a few twists to it.

------------------

 

[kkambbak9399]

Originally posted by ckolsen:
No news for months on this, while I dig up a picture, here's a news article from April.

The german car magazine "Autobild" (4/2000) announces that Honda will build a rear wheel drive car called AAV, that is planned to be launched in 2002. It will be available with two engines: the S2000 engine, reduced to 220 bhp and a 2.5 liter engine with 260 bhp. The AAV is a family sports car.

wow..
it looks pretty nice!!!
260 hp...whew!!!
so it plans to come out next yr??
dat soon??
i havent heard anything bout it!!

late

 

[mrclam]

reminds me of a ferarri for some reason. still, that s2000 based sedan looks pretty sweet, i like it. the only thing i dont' think i'd like is the s2000's engine in a sedan. i'd rather have an i6 with less efficiency but more torque

that's gonna screw around with weight but yeah, just my opinion

 

[ckolsen]

Unfortunately, not next year, it'll be 2002, probably a 2003 model at the soonest, possibly later. Honda is spending its time on SUVs and Minivans rather than sports sedans.
Clam,
An inline six would be ideal, but Honda can't afford to develop a new engine, so we will get a four, or at best an Accord-derived V6 (yuck). By then Lexus may have an aluminum inline six pushing 240+ hp, which will be sweeter than any four cylinder could be.

Originally posted by kkambbak9399:

wow..
it looks pretty nice!!!
260 hp...whew!!!
so it plans to come out next yr??
dat soon??
i havent heard anything bout it!!

late

 

[mrclam]

well, i've heard the s2000 at WOT and i'm simply amazed, i love it. i just dont' like teh fact that to get any power you have to hit the high rpms, it makes me want to stay away from honda. but yeah, actually, they should base the sedan on the NSX and use an MR setup

wouldn't that be an interesting sedan....

 

[Nitro Boy]

I agree with you it should have better styling. I also agree that more pop isnt gonna make it sell better. I think it should be lower and come standard with a spoiler or wing. The Black on those cars have Blue so when it gets dented and you need too fix it it will costa fortune too fix.

Nitro Boy

 

[yamaot]

Mrclam, a MR saden?

Where will the engine go? in the back seat?

[This message has been edited by yamaot (edited December 05, 2000).]

 

[ckolsen]

LOL! Then where will Mr. Clam put his Elephant-sized woofer boxes?

Originally posted by yamaot:
Mrclam, a MR saden?

Where will the engine go? in the back seat?

[This message has been edited by yamaot (edited December 05, 2000).]

 

[mrclam]

why in the hood of course!

Originally posted by ckolsen:
LOL! Then where will Mr. Clam put his Elephant-sized woofer boxes?

[This message has been edited by mrclam (edited December 06, 2000).]

 

[chiem]

I have quite a bit of driving experience in the 3.2 TL--since I bought one. I can tell you that with the current suspension, it's nowhere like driving an IS or BMW. After driving my IS for a while, driving the TL feels a bit boaty. It's nice and stable at high speeds, but once you hit a turn, the boatiness comes through. I don't see how it can compete with the IS or 3-series, unless Acura does some serious sport-suspension tuning on it. Nevertheless, the TL is a pretty nice luxury sedan. It's got nice interior features that the IS should have offered--auto-dimming mirrors, navigation system, sunglass holder, etc. It's also pretty damn roomy, in my opinion. How tall are you if you think it's cramped ? Probably the best bang for the buck in the entry-level luxury sedan market.

--k

[This message has been edited by chiem (edited December 06, 2000).]

 

[Altezza]

I admit the TL is a very desirable car.
But people here in Japan just can't get over the fact that its a FWD and that its made in the US.

It'll take many more years of convincing auto manufacturing to make the people in Japan think American car = quality products.

Well, if the design was better it may sell better. Like the last generation Accord wagon. (Current Accord is a different model compared to the US model and is made in Japan.)

 

[ckolsen]

I agree, I think the TL and CL are great buys and very reliable, comfortable cruisers. I'm 6'3" and can't fit in either car, not enough headroom, even though they're big cars. I think the seats bottoms are too high, even lowered all the way down. I don't mind FWD cars, owned an Integra for 4 years, but the TL and CL are too heavy in the nose, even stiff suspensions (CL-S) can't make them fun handlers.

Originally posted by chiem:
I have quite a bit of driving experience in the 3.2 TL--since I bought one. I can tell you that with the current suspension, it's nowhere like driving an IS or BMW. After driving my IS for a while, driving the TL feels a bit boaty. It's nice and stable at high speeds, but once you hit a turn, the boatiness comes through. I don't see how it can compete with the IS or 3-series, unless Acura does some serious sport-suspension tuning on it. Nevertheless, the TL is a pretty nice luxury sedan. It's got nice interior features that the IS should have offered--auto-dimming mirrors, navigation system, sunglass holder, etc. It's also pretty damn roomy, in my opinion. How tall are you if you think it's cramped ? Probably the best bang for the buck in the entry-level luxury sedan market.

--k

[This message has been edited by chiem (edited December 06, 2000).]